Updates
Here we post updates on our findings and other developments on how COVID-19 affects your pregnancy and your child’s development to better your experience.
Twitter Updates
Featured Updates
The Latest Research On… Parental Coping During COVID-19
Led by Dr. Anna MacKinnon, this free webinar will cover recent findings on the mental health of pregnant women and parents of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The talk will be held on Thursday, May 6, 2021 from 7 to 8 pm MDT.
Please register through the Calgary Public Library. A library card number is required for registration.
Moms' Mental Health: Pregnancy, Pandemic and Beyond
Join Drs. Gerry Giesbrecht and Anna MacKinnon for a discussion and Q&A on Moms' Mental Health: Pregnancy, Pandemic and Beyond.
This event is open to the public and will be on Monday, May 3, 2021 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm MDT.
Prenatal care disruptions and associations with maternal mental health during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to increased anxiety and depression in pregnant Canadian individuals. This study aimed to identify which pandemic-related disruptions to regular prenatal care were most likely to contribute to these aspects of mental health. Cancellations of prenatal care appointments, changes to childcare plans during birth, and changes to the support person attending birth were associated with greater odds of experiencing depression and/or anxiety. The results of this study highlight the need for reliable and accessible prenatal care during the pandemic, such as mental health screening and coordination of care providers.
COVID CORNER Webinar Series
Preliminary findings from the study were shared at the COVID CORNER webinar series, hosted by the Cumming School of Medicine.
Dr. David Johnson from Departments of Pediatrics gave a quick rundown on how Canadian pregnant individuals are experiencing elevated depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A recording can be found under “February 10, 2021: The Shadow Pandemic – Part Two: Impact Across the Ages” at 14:53.
Gift Card Draw Winners
Participants who completed surveys between December 2020 and February 2021 were automatically entered into a draw for five $100 gift cards. The winners of the gift card draw have now been contacted by email. Congratulations to the winners!
We hope to be able to continue to offer some small tokens of appreciation as we move forward with the study.
COVID-19 Vaccine and Pregnancy
As of March 12, 2021, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should be offered vaccination at any time if they are eligible.
Please note that the Pregnancy during the Pandemic Study is in no way involved with vaccine distribution and cannot provide specific information on getting access to a vaccine in your area or if it is right for you. Please contact your physician to determine if you should be vaccinated and how to access an appointment.